Insulation Institute Blog

Posts Categorized: Energy Efficiency

Do Realtors Get “Sustainable” Construction?

Green or sustainable construction is estimated to make up one-third of single-family and multifamily home construction, and that number will likely increase to roughly 50 percent by 2022.[1] Such energy-efficient homes are in high demand among buyers because they are less costly to own, more comfortable, and generally command a higher resale value than standard code-built homes.[2] Real estate professionals who are knowledgeable about sustainable or energy-efficient features in homes can be a source of education and information for potential buyers, but their knowledge of such features and their impact varies. A new report from the National Association of Realtors® looks at realtors’ knowledge of sustainability in the industry and provides insights into the extent to which green features appeal to buyers.

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Do Realtors Get “Sustainable” Construction?

Under Construction: A Resource for the Skilled Workforce

Building professionals across the country acknowledge one of the central challenges facing construction today is recruiting talented tradespeople. Ryan Miller, Founder and Executive Director of North Carolina Building Performance Association (NCBPA), a five-year-old not-for-profit association, is working on a solution: a toolkit of career resources for individuals interested in joining the high-performance building industry as a tradesperson. The resources will help guide students and others interested in the trades on the various career pathways in high-performance residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.

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Under Construction: A Resource for the Skilled Workforce

HERS Raters Boost EE Competency for Builders

With 27 years’ experience as an insulation contractor in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area, Cardice Howard’s knowledge base about energy-efficient home construction is extensive. She’s seen that builders who work collaboratively with all trades achieve the best results, a better HERS score, and the desired home energy efficiency or air tightness targets. Leveraging her experience as an insulation contractor will be vital as she steps into her role as the Acting Deputy Director of Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET®), where she will work with raters to help builders construct more high-performance, energy-efficient homes.

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HERS Raters Boost EE Competency for Builders

Our Top Five Blog Posts of 2018

With 2018 coming to a close, we reviewed the most read blog posts of the year. Air sealing was our most popular topic. With more states adopting stronger energy codes, readers were very interested in how to use high-performance building practices and proper air sealing to achieve new air tightness targets.

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Our Top Five Blog Posts of 2018

Technology is a Bullet Train, Home Building a Bicycle

If technology is a bullet train, home building is a bicycle. Technological changes occur at a dizzying pace, but the main design of the bicycle – like that of a home, has changed very little in centuries. However, while home design principles haven’t changed much, architects and builders have more knowledge than ever before of building science and how it can improve building durability and performance.

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Technology is a Bullet Train, Home Building a Bicycle

Prepping for the Zero Energy Home Future

While only two U.S. states currently have a mandated goal of zero net energy (ZNE) home construction after 2020, Oregon and California, it’s becoming increasingly clear that ZNE homes will be much more prevalent in the not-too-distant future as states and municipalities look for ways to reduce carbon emissions and ultimately mitigate the impact of climate change. In fact, 280 U.S. cities and counties, 10 states and 2,717 signatories have committed to support climate action with the We are Still In agreement, which aims to reduce climate impact by among other things, lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

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Prepping for the Zero Energy Home Future

Air Sealing: Whose Job Is It Anyway?

An average of 22 subcontractors are involved in the construction of a new home.[1] With dozens of people involved, there can be a lot of confusion about whose job air sealing is, particularly if details aren’t spelled out within the scope of work or aren’t communicated effectively.

Ensuring that new construction homes are properly air sealed often means communicating with all trades so that they understand their respective roles in achieving airtightness targets. How you communicate the requirements may differ, but there are some commonalities that top builders have when it comes to assuring air sealing success.

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Air Sealing: Whose Job Is It Anyway?

Fiberglass Among “Best Insulation Materials from a Health Perspective”

Fiberglass insulations received a ringing endorsement in a recent report by Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) that examines the health impacts of materials used in weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades for low-income multifamily housing stock.

The report reviews the materials used in these retrofits and ranks products – including various types of insulation – from least to most hazardous. According to the report, fiberglass insulations are among “the best insulation materials from a health perspective….and we recommend their use whenever possible.”

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Fiberglass Among “Best Insulation Materials from a Health Perspective”